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Glossary of Terms

Acronyms and Terminology
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As you will soon discover, the teaching profession is full of acronyms and terminology that can sometimes make navigation challenging and confusing! To guide you on your journey into teaching, here are some key terms explained.   
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Appropriate Body (AB)
An organisation responsible for the quality assurance and verification process of statutory teacher induction. 
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
A Bachelor of Education (BEd) is an Undergraduate professional teacher training degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
BEd courses are mainly taken by primary school teachers, although it is possible to teach another Key Stage.
Continuing Professional Development (​CPD)
Effective continuing professional development for teachers is essential to becoming a confident and competent as a teacher and ultimately providing high-quality teaching. 
​See here for information about the SWIFT CPD offer for 2021-2022.
Early Career Framework (ECF)
The Early Career Framework (ECF) is a statutory two-year package of high-quality professional development (training, support, and resources) for schools with Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs)*

*Now called Early Career Teachers.
EARLY CAREER TEACHERS (ECTs)
​Following the completion of their teacher training course, Newly Qualified Teachers gain Qualified Teacher Status.
​They then need to complete a statutory 12-months induction programme of development, support and professional dialogue with monitoring and an assessment of performance against the relevant Teacher Standards.​
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS (GDPR)​
Everyone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called 'data protection principles' and must ensure personal information is used fairly, lawfully and transparently.
The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK's implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). ​
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (HEI)
A Higher Education Institution is third level (tertiary) education at a university and Further Education college.
As an ITT provider an HEI offers Undergraduate and Postgraduate teacher training courses. ​​​
INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING (ITT)
Initial Teacher Training is a university-led or school based teacher training route. ​
​LOCAL AUTHORITY (LA)
​​A Local Authority is an organisation officially responsible for all the public services and facilities in a particular area.
State Schools receive funding through their Local Authority or directly from the Government depending on the type of school.
MULTI ACADEMY TRUST (MAT)
​​A group of primary/secondary State Schools in England funded by Central Government, but run as independent schools in partnership with each other.
​NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (NPQS)
NPQs are a range of professional qualifications for school leaders to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours.
This current academic a reformed suite of NPQs is available for teachers and leaders to develop their knowledge and skills in school leadership and specialist areas of teaching practice. ​
​PLANNING, PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT (PPA)
PPA time was introduced in 2005 to help ease teachers’ workload to plan and prepare lessons and work on assessments for the children they teach. The aim of PPA time is to reduce the number of hours that teachers need to put into planning lessons and marking during evenings and at the weekend.
Teachers are entitled to 10% of regular teaching time during the normal working week as PPA. ​​​
​POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (PGCE)
​The PGCE is a one or two-year Higher Education teacher training course for Graduates.
​In England, this can be either on a traditional university-led teacher training course or school-led teacher training.
QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS (QTS)​
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is a legal requirement to teach in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in England. ​
RECENTLY QUALIFIED TEACHER (RQT)
A Recently Qualified Teacher is a teacher who is in their second n their second year of teaching (a Year 2 Early Career Teacher).
SCHOOL-CENTRED INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING (SCITT)
School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programmes are led by schools or groups of schools that work in close partnership with universities. Trainee teachers can gain a PGCE and work towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
SCHOOL DIRECT (SD)
​​School Direct is an employment-based route for high quality Graduates, typically with at least three years' experience of transferable work history.  
​Students who train to be a teacher on a School Direct training programme are employed as an unqualified teacher whilst they learn on the job.
​SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES (SEND)
​Children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities require special educational provision.
​The Departments for Education and Health provide a Code of Practice (January 2015) for statutory guidance on duties, policies and procedures relating to Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM (SLT)
The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is responsible to the Governing Body for the leadership and management of the school.
Each member of the team has specific responsibilities and depending on the size of the school usually includes a Headteacher/Head of School, Deputy Headteacher (s), Assistant Headteachers and a Business Manager/Bursar. 
TEACHING AND LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY (TLR)
​Classroom teachers who take on additional leadership and management responsibilities could be awarded a Teaching and Learning Responsibility payment.
There are no nationally prescribed levels or values of TLR payment.
Each Governing Body can decide the overall number of posts of responsibility carrying TLR payments in the school. ​
"There is no other career like teaching. It is such a rewarding experience and you end each day feeling like you have made such a different to so many children. The PGCE year is a challenging year, but we couldn't be anymore supported by Exeter Consortium.
​They are there with us every step of the way and provide us with incredibly inspiring lectures by a range of brilliant people."
Issie, Primary School Direct 3-7, Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance
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